BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau — The self-declared winner of Guinea-Bissau’s disputed presidential election has accused the country’s new military junta of orchestrating a “premeditated” return to power for ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embaló.
Fernando Dias da Costa, who has taken refuge in the Nigerian embassy in Bissau since the Nov. 26 military takeover, issued a scathing statement over the weekend. He alleged that the High Military Command, led by Gen. Horta Inta-A, is working to “institutionalize the coup” and subvert the will of the voters.
“The mission of Gen. Horta Inta-A and his acolytes is to deliberately and premeditatedly prepare for the return of dictator Umaro Sissoco Embaló to power,” Dias said. He described the takeover as a “self-coup” designed to prevent the National Electoral Commission (CNE) from announcing results that would have confirmed Embaló’s defeat.
The military seized control just 24 hours before official results were due. While the junta initially claimed it had arrested Embaló to thwart a “destabilization plot,” the former president was allowed to leave for Senegal shortly after. Critics and opposition members point to the fact that the new transitional government is packed with Embaló’s closest allies, including Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira Té, who served as Embaló’s campaign director.
Dias’ statement also raised fresh corruption allegations, demanding “clarification” regarding the reported seizure of 5 million euros ($5.5 million) by Portuguese authorities on a private jet linked to Embaló’s wife in Lisbon earlier this month.
“Since coming to power, the Embaló regime has turned Guinea-Bissau into a veritable paradise for drug traffickers,” Dias said, referring to the nation’s long-standing reputation as a “narco-state.” He accused the previous administration of systematically protecting organized crime and money laundering.
The regional bloc ECOWAS has suspended Guinea-Bissau and rejected the junta’s proposed 12-month transition period, demanding a shorter timeline and the release of political detainees. However, analysts warn that the bloc’s response has been “timid,” with some regional leaders reportedly maintaining close personal ties to Embaló.
“The absurd, illegitimate, and unacceptable revision of the constitution and electoral laws have been conceived not to strengthen the rule of law, but to normalize the usurpation of power,” Dias said.
While the junta claims electoral equipment was destroyed during the coup, election experts believe the data remains intact. The international community, including the European Parliament, has called for the immediate disclosure of the Nov. 23 vote count.
